ZOONOOZ December 2013

inside december 2013

Orange Is the New Baby When Indah the Sumatran orangutan gave birth to her baby, it was cause for celebration!

wildlife

If You Build It, They Will Come

Making a Splash: New Sea Lion Pups

Guess who’s flocking to the fantastic habitats at the Safari Park? Locals of the feathered kind!

Two sea lion youngsters are joining the Camp Critters crew, and their career is going swimmingly!

Managing Diabetes in Zoo Animals

Flora of the Australian Outback

Find out how our keepers and veterinarians work together to keep animals healthy.

Enjoy a bloomin’ eyeful of authentic plants from the Zoo’s Australian Outback exhibits.

conservation

Milestone for a Mini-mouse The tiny Pacific pocket mouse successfully bred for the first time in managed care, and the baby mice are a welcome sight.

more

What’s in Store

Support

Through the Lens

Chairman’s Note

You Said It

From the Archives

on the cover: Sumatran orangutan Pongo abelii ©Ken Bohn, SDZG Photographer

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chairman’s note

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL OFFICERS Richard B. Gulley, Chairman William H. May, Vice Chairman Sandra A. Brue, Secretary Robert B. Horsman, Treasurer

Cheers to a Wonderful Year

W

hat a year it has been! Many significant changes and achievements occurred for San Diego Zoo Global in 2013, and I am proud of all that has been accomplished. As I mentioned in last month’s column, this third year of success for the Safari Park is a milestone for San Diego Zoo Global, and we are pleased to see members, guests, and visitors to San Diego embrace the wonderful adventures the Park offers. The opening of the Conrad Prebys Australian Outback at the Zoo was also a resounding success, providing a well-appointed home for our entire colony of Queensland koalas, as well as many other Australian species. And the addition of Tasmanian devils in October has made an interesting experience even more exciting.

This year we also saw many births and hatchings, including the particularly significant arrivals of a southern white rhino, greater one-horned rhino, Sumatran orangutan, and Jamaican iguana.

Our conservation work continued at sites around the world, including Cocha Cashu in Peru, the Ebo Forest in Cameroon, and the Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program, as well as studies of African elephants in Botswana, koalas on St. Bees Island in Australia, and giant pandas and snubnosed monkeys in China. Important local conservation achievements included releasing mountain

BOARD OF TRUSTEES M. Javade Chaudhri Berit N. Durler Clifford W. Hague Nan C. Katona Patricia L. Roscoe Steven G. Tappan Judith A. Wheatley David S. Woodruff, Ph.D., D.Sc. TRUSTEES EMERITI Frank C. Alexander Kurt Benirschke, M.D. Weldon Donaldson Thompson Fetter Bill L. Fox Frederick A. Frye, M.D. George L. Gildred Yvonne W. Larsen John M. Thornton Albert Eugene Trepte Betty Jo F. Williams William E. Beamer, General Counsel Douglas G. Myers, President/CEO Charles L. Bieler, Executive Director Emeritus

The Foundation of San Diego Zoo Global OFFICERS John E. Gartman, Chair Murray H. Hutchison, Vice Chair Margie Warner, Secretary Maryanne C. Pfister, Treasurer Mark A. Stuart, President Richard B. Gulley, Ex officio Douglas G. Myers, Ex officio BOARD OF DIRECTORS Christine L. Andrews Richard A. Baldwin Joye D. Blount Rick Bregman Lisa S. Casey Douglas Dawson Berit N. Durler, Ex officio U. Bertram Ellis, Jr. Arthur E. Engel Fran Golden Craig L. Grosvenor Judith C. Harris Richard M. Hills Craig A. Irving

yellow-legged frogs, light-footed clapper rails, and western pond turtles to the wild; the first Pacific pocket mouse births in a zoo; and the hatching of 6 California condors—which brings the total number of California condors we’ve hatched to 183, 129 of which have been released to the wild.

I’d also like to take a moment to thank our 2013 major donors, whose generosity has helped San Diego Zoo Global to make great strides: Conrad Prebys, Ernest Rady, and Thomas Tull. There are so many people who have contributed to San Diego Zoo Global’s work this year, including all of you as our members, and I give you my sincere thanks for your support and enthusiasm for making a difference for wildlife.

Happy Holidays from all of us at San Diego Zoo Global!

Rick Gulley Chairman

you said it I have come to appreciate elephants because of this cam! I have fallen in love with them and just love their different personalities! It is so much fun to watch them in the water. I never knew that elephants played in the water like that!

Sandy

I want to fly to California right now just to see Xiao Liwu at the @sandiegozoo. These pictures on Tumblr prove why pandas are my favorite.

@colormeinfinity

@onurtekin Thank you so much for this—and all of the previous articles—about the Yun-Gao family and about pandas in general. As much as I have been captivated by the adorable Baby Wu as he explores, experiences, and learns life lessons, your thoughtful and educational blogs add enormously to the experience.

I visit the Zoo at least once a week, sometimes twice, just to walk and enjoy the animals. I always make sure to visit my guy, Orson. I love that cat to pieces! I also love “my” Zoo. I’m 67 and visiting the Zoo each week has not only improved my health but has made my life so much better. By the way, I’ve been going to the San Diego Zoo since I was a baby.

Barbee Bergan

Marlene

We visited your Park last week. My 11-yearold son loves rhinos. We were fortunate enough to take the Caravan Safari. We were thrilled!

My son was overjoyed to get to feed his beloved rhinos. Thank you for the work you do, and thank you for these lifelong memories!

Daysi Diaz Shaw

Do you know, I find myself guiding every conversation I have toward pandas! I could be a pandaholic! Plus, my spell check recognizes “pandaholics” as a word! I may be in trouble! LOL!

Michele<3

Willow ate all the leaves!

Sharon Hunt

Had another fantastic day enjoying the animals at @sandiegozoo and took over 120 photos. Never fail to have an uplifted spirit after leaving.

@iamanownzoar

Thx to @sandiegozoo for an amazing week of Zoo camp for my kindergartener. Ready to sign up for next summer now! #AmericasBestZoo

@sdreini

I was very impressed with the thoughtfulness of the design of the new koala exhibits. Each koala has its own tree (which is a mix of natural wood trees and a metal tree which provides shade, misters, and heat). Another thing I liked was how the viewing area is raised so visitors can easily watch koalas (usually napping in a tree) at human eye level. The koalas and visitors can be comfortable this way.

mosaic_world

@jor_dan_kai_ser One of my favorite projects in 4th grade was researching and writing about gravely threatened California condors. Nowâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;35 years laterâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;I am grateful for your good work that strengthens the condor population. Please continue the condor cam and the great blog posts!

Julie

through the lens Photos by Ken Bohn, SDGZ Photographer

Western lowland gorilla Gorilla gorilla gorilla

ORANGE Is the NEW BABY! Indah, a Sumatran orangutan, gave birth to a female infant on October 25, 2013.

Indah was attentive and caring toward her daughter from the start.

By Karyl Carmignani STAFF WRITER

Photos by Ken Bohn SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

S

umatran orangutan Indah gave birth to a tiny bundle of joy on October 25, 2013, at 7:15 a.m. at the San Diego Zoo. The second-time mother was doting and attentive to her flame-colored daughter the minute she laid eyes on her. The baby was estimated to weigh three to four pounds at birth and was the cause of much celebration.

Keepers knew Indah was due any time, and that morning she was up early, moving around, holding the bars in her bedroom, and hanging

Orangutans are almost exclusively arboreal, and little ones hang on tight for the ride. This is Indahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second offspring and is in good handsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;or feet, in this case.

off the ground in response to her contractions. At 7 a.m., her water broke, and 15 minutes later she was cleaning off her newborn. Within an hour, the baby was dry and snuggled in tight to Mom’s body, and by early afternoon, the little girl was nursing. “Sometimes it can take up to 72 hours before the newborns nurse,” said Tanya Howard, senior keeper. “We were pleased that this birth and bonding process went so smoothly. Indah is a great mother.” The baby’s father is Satu.

“Orangutans are critically endangered great apes,” said Tanya. “Having a girl is extra special, as we need more females in the population.”

From the beginning, Indah has had the option to go out on exhibit each day or stay in the back bedroom area. She brought her daughter out for the world to see briefly the first week, but then she chose to stay behind the scenes for several days. Now Indah is taking baby on outings more often. When she opts for the great outdoors, visitors can see them at the Zoo exhibit or on Ape Cam through the Zoo’s website.

Once just a nonbreeding visitor, the great egret Ardea alba began breeding at the Safari Park in 1989.

If You Build It, They Will Come

The white-faced ibis Plegadis chihi is one of the many native species that flock to the Safari Park’s ponds. The Park’s human-designed landscape of trees and shrubs is an oasis in the midst of the habitat change taking place due to human activity.

By Michael Mace CURATOR OF BIRDS, SDZSP

and Wendy Perkins STAFF WRITER

Photos by Ken Bohn SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

I

n the 1989 movie Field of Dreams, the famous tag line was “If you build it, they will come.” The main character of the film creates a baseball diamond in his cornfield to attract former legends of the national pastime, baseball. His prophecy comes true, and he gets the result he hoped for—but he also receives a bonus he hadn’t considered. At the Safari Park, we create incredible natural habitats so that our exotic animals thrive, and we can immerse our guests in a great experience. But as we develop these areas around the Safari Park, we’ve discovered a bonus, too.

WILD WELCOME

Peregrine falcons Falco peregrinus, once considered an endangered species, are making a comeback and have been spotted at the Safari Park.

The blush of color on this male cattle egret Bulbulcus ibis signifies breeding season has begun.

Developing the Safari Park in San Diego Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chaparral created an oasis of trees, lush vegetation, and large water features. As it turns out, these micro-habitats have also provided homes for an inf lux of native avian species.

Some birds stop in to rest during their annual migration along the Pacific Flyway, while others stay year-round. Boat-tailed grackles, white-faced ibis, cactus wrens, and snowy and cattle egrets have taken up residence and become established populations at the Safari Park. In fact, the cactus wrens, egrets, and ibis living here have formed some of the largest breeding concentrations in all of San Diego County.

During the past 40 years, migrating American white pelicans have made good use of the Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ponds and lagoons. It seems when California has extended periods of drought and traditional water sources recede, the pelicans visit us during their migration. Bird enthusiasts throughout San Diego have been thrilled and astonished at the sight of hundreds of pelicans using the Park as a stopover.

The native coastal sage scrub surrounding the Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expansive field enclosures is notably one of the most valuable habitats in San Diego County. Numerous bird

The Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s undisturbed acreage is home to a large population of endangered cactus wrens Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus.

PHOTO BY KEN KELLEY, SDZG

species live in this unique habitat, and the more than 800 acres of undeveloped land at the Safari Park provide a protected environment for these locals. In fact, one of the largest populations of cactus wrens in the county can be found on the Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s undisturbed acreage. Other species such as red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures, American kestrels, and Nuttallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and downy woodpeckers inhabit the area, in addition to other fine-feathered friends. Each year during the Christmas Bird Count (an annual event promoted by the National Audubon Society), about 130 native bird species are sighted at the Park.

MAKING THEMSELVES AT HOME Some of the local species seen at the Park are also represented in other parts of the world. Cattle egrets, for example, range from North and South America to Africa, Madagascar, and southwestern Europe. The egrets are often seen walking among and even sitting on Cape buffalo, giraffes, and rhinos in the wild. In San Diego, they spend time with animals in our collection, which enhances a

Cattle egrets choose to nest in the prickly acacia trees, where the long thorns help deter predators.

visitor’s feeling of “being in Africa.” Park guests are often impressed that we “trained the birds to walk with our large mammals,” until they learn that these are wild egrets just doing what comes naturally—then they are even more impressed!

Five heron species have established breeding areas at the Park: the great blue heron, great egret, snowy egret, black-crowned night heron, and the cattle egret. While large amounts of water at the Park are certainly a draw for these wetland species, our other environments attract other types of birds. For example, the overhanging deck and support structure of the Great Rift Lift elevator building and the bridges created for the Africa Tram Safari provide prime nesting locations for swallows.

We’ve built fantastic exhibits for our world-renowned collection, and guests have flocked to see them. Yet the story doesn’t end there. Just as in Field of Dreams, there’s an unexpected bonus: because we built it, the local bird species also come—and benefit.

While binturongs consume fruit in the wild, in zoos it can be better for them to eat more vegetables.

Managing Diabetes in Zoo Animals

PHOTO BY RON GORDON GARRISON, SDZG

Lion-tailed macaques are social monkeys whose diets are carefully monitored to ensure they remain healthy.

By Karyl Carmignani STAFF WRITER

Photos by Ken Bohn SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

A

s diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in humans in the US, a reasonable question is: can other animals become diabetic? It has been said that anything with a pancreas can develop diabetes, so yes, a surprising array of animals can develop the disease. Fortunately, the animal care staff at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park have become deft in intercepting cases of full-blown diabetes while treatment has improved dramatically. “We keep a close eye on them,” said Kim Livingstone, lead keeper at the Zoo. “Primates are closely related to humans, so we use all the same medications and diagnostic tools to manage their health when it comes to diabetes.” And it takes close collaboration between

Training animals to voluntarily accept an insulin injection in exchange for a reward makes diabetes treatment easier for both the patient and the keeper.

our veterinarians, nutritionists, and keepers. “We work together to do what’s best for each animal,” said Kim. That can be challenging, particularly when the animal lives in a social group and must be singled out for its treatment. With well over 7,600 pancreas-toting animals in the San Diego Zoo Global collection, it is encouraging that very few are on the diabetes spectrum, but those that are require special care.

What Is Diabetes?

Glucose is the sugar that is processed from the food we eat. When everything is as it should be, the pancreas makes the hormone insulin, which helps the glucose get into our cells to give them energy. According to the World Health Organization, diabetes is a “chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.”

Having diabetes indicates that the body is not making enough insulin or isn’t utilizing insulin properly. While pet dogs and cats can develop both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, zoo animals, which tend to live much

longer in managed care than they would in the wild, usually develop only type 2 diabetes, often later in life. Though it is difficult to pinpoint a single cause for diabetes in zoo animals, there is evidence, according to Jen Parsons, Ph.D., associate nutritionist at the Zoo, of “a genetic component, a possible effect of progestins in birth control, and a large dietary factor that contributes to a cascade of hormonal reactions leading to insulin resistance.” Studies of zoo animals indicate a gender bias: nearly 80 percent of diabetic animals are female.

Managing Monkeys

When one animal in a social group needs treatment, it takes planning and skill to make sure the diabetic animal gets what it needs while the others still receive their regular diet.

Given that monkeys are primates like us, it is not surprising that they should develop similar diseases, including diabetes. For example, a group of three lesser spot-nosed guenons at the Zoo is monitored closely. Sassy has diabetes and gets an insulin shot once a day. Fortunately, she is a tractable, social little monkey who trusts her keepers. She willingly enters the chute, and keepers gently position the “squeeze” board to hold her in place for an injection. She is rewarded with five Craisins, the only fruit she is allowed to eat. “Luckily, Sassy is very cooperative,” said Kim. “But some animals are not compliant, so we have to get creative when treating them.” Sassy’s roommate, Rachel, is pre-diabetic, so keepers and nu-

tritionists are working together to stay ahead of it. “Her diet Worldwide, 347 million people have diabeis closely monitored, and she tes; it is the seventh leading cause of death gets her oral medication in a in the US. Type 1 diabetes, also called jupiece of banana,” said Kim. venile diabetes, is likely caused by a combi“We take preventative meanation of genetics and environmental trigsures and check the animal’s gers. It causes the immune system to target urine for ketone levels daily.” and kill off its own insulin-producing cells Elevated ketone levels indicate and requires regular insulin shots to manthe body is using fat instead of age the condition. glucose for energy because not Type 2 diabetes (formerly called adult-onenough insulin is available. set or non-insulin-dependent diabetes) reThe veterinarians determine sults from the body’s ineffective use of inwhat to have keepers monitor, sulin and is the most common form in both and this information is used humans and animals. It is typically the reby the veterinarians to detersult of excess body weight and physical inmine how well an animal is activity. Sometimes diet and exercise regidoing on treatment. Keepers mens can keep it under control; sometimes take copious notes and maininsulin injections are necessary. tain a spreadsheet for diabetic animals indicating their medications, diet, test results, and, when needed, where the animal received its injection. “Just like with people, we have to rotate where we give a monkey its shot so it doesn’t build up callouses in one spot, which could impact the efficacy of the medicine,” said Kim. Working together, vets and keepers closely monitor the animals’ health. “One of the best things about my job is being part of a compassionate team that puts the health and well-being of the animals first,” she added.

Two Types of Diabetes

Macaque Cutting Back In the heart of Asian Passage at the Zoo lives a troop of lion-tailed macaques, a handsome, fluffy-faced primate from southwest India. Frankie, the resident male, had put on a few extra kilos and was found to be pre-diabetic. Jen pointed out the challenges of treating a member of a social group: “It’s tricky when we have to cut back the calorie intake for an individual in a group, especially when others in the group may be geriatric and perhaps underweight.” Keepers, veterinarians, and nutritionists collaborated on dietary strategies to keep the “bad stuff” (fruit

and other high-calorie items) away from Frankie and make sure the rest of the troop is getting enough “good stuff.”

“We had to come up with a way to reduce calories but increase volume of food for the monkeys,” said Jen. “So we increased the amount of greens and cut back on the starchy vegetables like potatoes, yams, and corn. Jicama is half the calories and contains a lot of fiber, so it is a great substitute.

And the monkeys love it!”

Also helpful is the progress made in commercial monkey biscuits; they are now lower in starch. Keepers can also do “target feeding” as animals move through the chute out into the exhibit. Dieting monkeys can see when others get treats like fruit, and if they don’t get any, it can create animosity between them. So keepers conduct short training sessions in the chute out of sight of troop mates. “We can still fatten up the skinny ones,” Jen said. “And Frankie can stick to his diet.”

Binturong Though a member of the order Carnivora, the binturong has adapted to a more flexible diet in the forests of Southeast Asia; it eats mostly fruits, as well as leaves, shoots, insects, small mammals, birds, and carrion. This omnivorous diet does not always work as well in a zoo, and binturongs can be prone to developing diabetes. Jen explained that store-bought, domesticated fruit has been developed for the human palate to contain a higher sugar content and lower fiber. (Fiber helps slow sugar absorption, keeping an animal’s glucose on an even keel.)

Duplicating the composition of lean, wild fruits means the binturongs

get lots of veggies instead. “As the science of zoo nutrition evolves, diabetes is diminishing, as we are better at managing an animal’s body condition and weight,” said Jen. “Treatment is one thing, but prevention is the name of the game.” Just as it is for humans.

Diabetes Diagnosis Animals in the collection are monitored closely, and if a keeper notices an increase in appetite, water consumption, and urination, veterinarians request that the animal’s urine be tested for glucose or ketone levels. Sometimes diabetes can be detected in a blood panel taken while an animal is anesthetized for something else. Dietary modifications are the first line of defense, with oral medication next. Some animals are trained and desensitized to injections, while keepers are trained to give insulin shots, in case it comes to that. Though the animal cannot “cheat” on its low-sugar diet, it can be difficult to tightly control its glucose levels 24/7. “There are about five classes of drugs for glucose metabolism,” said Meg Sutherland-Smith, D.V.M. “But some are expensive and require intense monitoring. We always have to balance the side effects with monitoring and the benefits of the medication.” Sound familiar?

Banksia menziesii flowers are made up of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of individual blossoms.

FLORA

of the

Australian Outback

Grevillea banksii

By Seth Menser SENIOR HORTICULTURIST, SAN DIEGO ZOO

Photos by Ken Bohn SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

L

ast spring, the San Diego Zoo opened the Conrad Prebys Australian Outback to a chorus of laughing kookaburras, chirping rainbow lorikeets, and excited, chattering human visitors. Our efforts to bring Australian flair to the “Koalafornia” coast included many new plants that also come from the Land Down Under. Our goal was to have unusual Australian native plants to complement the animals in our newest addition to the Zoo. Like the fauna that call Australia home, the native flora have unique and beautiful features as well.

During the past few years, the San Diego Zoo’s Horticulture Department grew and prepared a variety of plants for the project. One exciting element of this process was collecting and sourcing seeds in the Australian states of Western Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland,

both on private lands and by working with various botanical gardens and zoos. Some plants starting their life here in the US are species of Ficus, Acacia, Banksia, Eucalyptus, Melaleuca, Grevillea, Hakea, Hibiscus, and Syzgium, as well as cycads, boabs, bottlebrushes, orchids, tree ferns, and colorful kangaroo paws. With these plants, many of which are seldom grown outside of Australia, Zoo guests get a more immersive Aussie experience—perhaps even the koalas will wake up and take notice!

Acacia

With nearly 1,000 Acacia species native to Australia, wattles (as they are called Down Under) are the largest group of plants found on the island continent. They grow in just about every environment you can think of.

Australian acacias are unusual because their foliage has evolved with many forms and structures. This leads to some bizarre yet attractive specimens. Many acacias have been planted in the Zoo’s Australian Outback—keep an eye out for a few along the bus route near the Tasmanian devil habitat. Once you see them, you will not even think they are closely related plants. As different as they may seem, they share one common trait: they all produce yellow puffball flowers.

Banksia Scattered around the Australian Outback are a variety of the Banksia species, from trees to ground covers. Banksias belong in the Proteaceae family (commonly called proteas) and are known for their spectacular flowers. Many of the groundcover banksias look like ferns and are pollinated by small marsupials in their native habitat, such as possums and the yellow-footed antechinus. Tree forms of banksias are pollinated by many of the colorful native birds that frequent the plant for its nectar. Fire is an essential part of several of these Banksia species’

lifecycles. Because of this, we use some unorthodox techniques when propagating them, such as burning the dried cones and using smoke-infused water to soak the seeds prior to sowing.

Eucalyptus Nothing says Australia like eucalyptus, so it should come as no surprise that we have many new specimens of this fragrant flora in our Australian Outback area. We wanted to include species that are smaller growing with attractive foliage and flowers. This led us to a group of Eucalyptus species called mallees, which are short growing, multi-trunked trees from the arid regions of Australia. They have evolved to live with fire by burning to the ground and resprouting after the flames have died down. One such species is Eucalyptus caesia, planted on the various faux termite mounds in the area where our male koalas reside. These beautiful, weeping trees come from Western Australia. With their graceful, pendulous silver branches and giant red flowers, these trees are sure to be an eye pleaser.

Ficus (Fig) Trees Australia is blessed with a rich and diverse variety of native figs, from the wet tropics of Queensland to the dusty outback of Western Australia. In our collection, we have more than half of the Ficus species native to Australia.

One exciting example is Ficus albipilaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;look for it near the bus road on the female koalasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; side of the exhibit. Native to the rain forests of Queensland, the wood from this tree was used by indigenious Australians to make fighting, ceremonial, and symbolic clan shields. To craft a shield, they cut a section of the large, buttressed trunk and then used local plants, shells, and even rocks to decorate and preserve their creation. Our tree is young now, but in time it should become a towering landmark.

Grevillea Along with banksias, grevilleas are a member of the protea group, and they, too, bear beautiful flowers. Grevilleas have become popular as a landscape plant thanks to the breeding of different species. Growing between the bird aviaries across from the Tasmanian devil habitat are two Grevillea species (G. banksii and G. bipinnatifida) used to develop the many colorful hybrids now available on the market. Interestingly, this makes for a sort of cross-country love story, as G. banksii grows naturally on the humid, sub-tropical Queensland coast while G. bipinnatifida is found in the hills around Perth in Western Australia.

Wollemi Pine We are very excited to bring one of the rarest plants in the world, the Wollemi pine Wollemia nobilis, to the Zoo and be able to share its tale of conservation with our guests. With fewer than 100 left in the wild, this coniferous tree from Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Blue Mountains is listed as critically endangered. It is commonly referred to as a pine; however, it is not a pine at all but rather belongs to the Araucariaceae family of ancient coniferous trees. Amazingly, this tree was discovered for the first time in 1994 by an adventurous bush hiker in an isolated canyon in New South Wales. Because this species is new to science, it is sometimes called a living fossil. We are fortunate to have a pair of Wollemi pines growing between the bird aviaries across from the Tasmanian devils.

MiLeStOnE FoR A

MiNi-MoUsE

Pacific pocket mice are healthy eaters, consuming mainly seeds and greens.

By Karyl Carmignani STAFF WRITER

Photos by Tammy Spratt SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

T

he excitement is palpable, though the animals are snoozing soundly in their cozy, air-conditioned digs on a sweltering summer afternoon. The natural light and darkness that spill through the skylight over the Plexiglas enclosures keep the animalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; circadian rhythm on track. Presently, the nocturnal residents are holed up in their burrows, some solo, others with pups. It is Debra Shier, Ph.D., Brown Endowed Associate Director of Applied Animal Ecology at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, who is exuding excitement about the recent litters of Pacific pocket mice born at the off-exhibit breeding facility. Despite some chal-

lenges, the breeding project is going swimmingly. “The first pocket mouse pup was born on June 11, 2013, and we have had five litters born to our founder colony this season,” Debra said. She explained that 26 mice were collected from the 3 remaining populations on the coast of Southern California.

Breeding them at the facility was a challenging prospect because, as is often the case, females are choosy when it comes to their mates.

ChEeKy LiTtLe RoDeNt After neither hide nor hair of the creature was detected for years, the Pacific pocket mouse was thought Substrate is very important to these little to be extinct by the 1980s. But rodents, so the cages at the breeding center contain soft sand for burrowing and bathing. the pocket-sized California native proved to be stealthy and resilient—it was rediscovered in 1993.

Today, three small populations along the California coast burrow in at Dana Point, Santa Margarita, and southern San Mateo. Last year, mice from each population were collected to form the founder colony in an off-exhibit breeding area at the Safari Park. “We weren’t sure if each population should be bred separately or if it was appropriate to interbreed them until the Institute’s Genetics Division did some investigating,” Debra said. As it turns out, the slight genetic variation in pocket mouse populations is “due to genetic drift, not a clear selective force, so we were able to combine the founders for breeding purposes.” Creating a “match made in heaven” for each female, however, is a different matter.

It is both an art and a science to pair a tiny Romeo with a petite and picky Juliet at precisely the right time. “They are mostly solitary in the wild and only come together to mate, so we have to facilitate this reproductive behavior in the lab…at night,” said Debra. Since the mice are full of vim and scurry under the cover of darkness, researchers work under red lights, which are not visually perceived by the animals, to

PHOTO BY KEN BOHN, SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

Researchers, including senior research technician Amaranta Kozuch, carefully tend to their tiny charges, making sure each mouse has all of its biological requirements met in its cozy home.

observe their behavior without disturbing them. “Our biggest challenge has been trying to be here right when the female is in full estrus and pair her with a male she likes,” said Debra. And if the small window of opportunity is missed, it will be another two to three weeks before she cycles again.

RoDeNt RoMaNcE The females do not show a preference for males from their own population but do have a penchant for larger males. Once a female shows signs of estrus—which can be hard to detect on a tiny, nocturnal creature—a male is introduced. Finding “Mr. Right” may take multiple pairings, and each meeting can take a few minutes to a few hours. “The males have to be patient but persistent,” said Debra. The male sand bathes, which spreads his scent and status. If his scented sand is presented to the female in advance of their pairing, she may find him more desirable when the time comes. “Once they are both sand bathing together, it’s a good sign,” she added.

If the female decides a male’s scent and sincerity are worthy of her

PHOTO BY KEN BOHN, SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

affections, things take a strange—and fast—turn. “The first time I observed the behavior, I was stunned!” said Debra. The mice sidle up to each other head to toe and proceed to twirl in circles at dizzying speeds, like little furry pinwheels, tails flying. After their “spin,” the female mouse lies on her side and mating ensues. When it’s over, the animals are quickly separated, as females can get aggressive and ward off a persistent male with a bite to the head.

LiTtLe LiTtEr The gestation period for the Pacific pocket mouse is an enviable three weeks. First, she builds up her nest to accommodate her four to five pups. “By the second or third week, she gains weight, nearly doubling in size, going from about 6 to 12 grams in weight. Then her abdomen lengthens, and the fur disappears around her nipples,” said Debra. Each cage has a soft, sandy substrate with PVC pipes in which to tunnel and nest. The fluffy nesting material provided by the staff is often tucked around the mouse’s burrow so it stays dark and comfortable. The mice get sprigs of native buckwheat and finch mix to nibble on and hoard,

as well as spinach and lettuce every other day. Pregnant and lactating females receive a sprinkling of powdered milk to augment their diet.

Pocket mice do not drink water and have highly efficient kidneys that enable them to live off of the moisture in their food.

When the pocket mice pups are born, they are barely the size of a human fingernail. The mother keeps them snug in the den, where they grow rapidly. They are ready to reproduce at 41 days of age. Despite their fast track of development, Debra was quick to say that Pacific pocket mice are not a pest species. “Unlike other mice and rats, they do not live well with humans. They are highly specialized in both diet and behavior.” Their diet of primarily native seeds makes them important to habitat restoration, as they excrete them or leave them behind in their seed caches. And their burrowing activities help to aerate the soil and provide homes for other creatures that use abandoned mice burrows.

These native mice do not want to take over your home!

GrOwInG Up Debra and her team are working toward the goal of increasing the Pacific pocket mouse population to 200 individuals so that 50 can be released back into their historic range. Effective survival skills will be evaluated. Upon weaning, the pups will be tested in a small, red-lighted room for their “recognition and response behavior” to their top predators: barn owls and snakes. A king snake named Sylvester will be employed in a cage next to a mom and her pups and the reaction of the mice documented. Youngsters tend to mirror their mother’s response, so it’s a good way to make sure they’ll behave appropriately in the wild.

Later, a stuffed barn owl will swoop over their cage on a cable, which simulates another very real threat in the wild. A camera mounted on the wall will capture the desired flurry of activity.

Saving the Pacific pocket mouse requires a great deal of hard work, and Debra points out that support for the effort goes beyond the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Conservancy. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife recently awarded the project funding for two more years.

Its office in Carlsbad is an ardent “mover and shaker” for the project, garnering funding, convincing landowners and other agencies of the merits of the project, and securing release sites. The cooperation and collaborations are impressive. “It’s a big investment for agencies to save this tiny species,” said Debra. “It’s not just us.” We can all celebrate the first season of successful breeding of this mysterious mini-mouse.

Making a Splash

New Sea Lion Pups

Smart and wily Maverick lives up to his name.

By Peggy Scott ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Photos by Ken Bohn SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

T

here are two new stars on the horizon at the Zoo’s Wegeforth Bowl, and the hopefuls—a pair of California sea lions Zalophus californianus—can’t wait to try their hand, er, flipper, at showbiz. The one-year-old males, Ranger and Maverick, will eventually join Cabo, Jake, Riley, and Baja as part of the show’s water-loving and whisker-equipped cast members.

“These boys have big personalities,” says Carlee Westbrook, lead animal trainer. “We have started their basic training, and they are eager to learn.” The arrival of the pups was a big event for the training staff.

Kristi Lee Dovich, animal training manager, says, “These are only the third and fourth pups we’ve raised since 1990!”

CHARACTER ACTORS According to Carlee, the sea lion youngsters get along swimmingly. In the beginning, it looked like Maverick would live up to the lovable “bad

boy” reputation personified by the Top Gun character he was named for.

“Maverick was a challenge,” Carlee says. “He’s generally been a good, smart sea lion but a bit wily. He caused a little more trouble.” Ranger, on the other hand, was a docile boy who appeared happy to follow his buddy’s lead. “Ranger was sweet and not as mischievous,” says Carlee.

“He’s the one with the pink patch on his nose.” However, Kristi notes that the boys’ traits are starting to change. “The youngsters are now living with Cabo, our 26-year-old male sea lion. And their personalities have done a complete 180-degree switch!”

The plot of Maverick and Ranger’s journey to join the Camp Critters crew is worthy of a Hollywood drama. Both of them stranded themselves on a beach in San Francisco when they were just pups. After being rescued, rehabilitated, and released back into the ocean, they ended up on land again. “Maverick was found up in the rocks above the beach, and Ranger actually followed a group of people off the sand and up into Ghiradelli Square. It was decided they needed a home somewhere that would take care of them,” Carlee explains.

Kristi says that the boys’ situation may be the result of what’s known as an “unusual morbidity/mortality event,” which has been occurring this year—an indication that something unusual is going on in the ocean. “There have been over 700 strandings of young sea lions from Washington State to Baja California, Mexico, this year alone,” Kristi says. She notes that young sea lions typically leave their mother and go out on their own between eight months and one year of age, but if they are weaned early or orphaned, they may not have learned the skills needed to hunt for fish on their own.

Scientists are looking at what role pollution may have in these events. “A neurotoxin called domoic acid is produced by algae during algae blooms—such as the red tide that Californians may have heard about. Fish eat the algae, and sea lions and

Strong front flippers support the sea lion on land, propel it through the sea, and also serve to help regulate the sea lion’s body temperature.

other marine animals eat the fish,” Kristi says. “High levels of domoic acid can lead to lethargy, seizures, and death. And pollution may have a significant role in more of these toxic algae blooms occurring. That’s why it’s so important to keep pollution and trash out of the ocean, such as recycling plastic. There is a correlation between NOT recycling and the emergence of excess domoic acid in marine animals, a documented connection between animal populations and pollution.”

THEIR “BODY” OF WORK Sea lions and their blubbered brethren—seals and walruses—belong to a group of animals called pinnipeds, which means wing foot or feather foot. While walruses have a look all their own, it can be trickier to tell sea lions and seals apart. They’re both marine mammals that spend much of their time searching for food in the water, and they both have flippers. But if you look a little closer, there are differences, starting with the ears. If the animal has a small earflap on each side of its head, you are looking at a sea lion. Seals just have a small opening for their ears. Sea lions are also able to rotate their hind flippers underneath

You can identify Ranger by his fun-loving disposition—or the pink spots on his nose.

their body to help them scoot along beaches and shorelines. Seals cannot do this and must wriggle, roll, or slide to get around on land.

Aquatically adept, sea lions are built to thrive in the briny blue. They have a reflective membrane at the back of their eyes that acts like a mirror, bouncing what light there is back through the eye a second time to help them see better underwater. Sea lions rely on their excellent hearing to help them find food: squid, anchovies, mackerel, rockfish, and sardines. Their long snout has rubbery whiskers that help them feel their way around in dark, underwater areas.

Their strong front flippers also help regulate the sea lion’s body temperature. When it is cold, blood vessels in the thin-skinned flippers constrict to prevent heat loss; when it is hot, blood flow is increased to these surface areas to be cooled more quickly. Reports of a cluster of dark “fins” sticking out of the water in California harbors usually turn out to be a resting group of sea lions sticking their flippers into the air to cool off.

BULKING UP FOR THE ROLE Male California sea lions, called bulls, establish breeding territories that include harems of up to 14 females, called cows. Males aggressively defend these territories during breeding season with physical displays and loud vocalizations. Biologically, they reach sexual maturity at two to three years of age, but they don’t realistically have a chance of besting a larger, older male until they’re seven or eight. Breeding males measure about 7½ feet from nose to tail and weigh around 700 pounds, although some have been known to top 1,000 pounds. The females are downright dainty in comparison: 6 feet long and 240 pounds.

Currently weighing about 100 pounds each, Maverick and Ranger have a way to go—or grow—on their way to adulthood. To reach “leading man” size, they are chowing down on eight pounds of fish a day.

Carlee points out that this equals about 10,000 calories. Sound like a lot? “The big sea lions eat three times that much,” Carlee says.

STUDYING THEIR PARTS Currently, Maverick and Ranger are doing just what they should be doing—acting like young sea lions. “It’s a lot of teenage nonsense,” Carlee says. “They’ll be sunning on the deck and then all of a sudden, they get all bug-eyed and jump in the pool. All you see is a big ball of flippers and backsides in a big, goofy lump. They are so funny!” The boys have begun training to learn basic behaviors before tackling any scripts. “We’re doing well with name recognition and following directional cues, but we’re also working on the daily stuff of ‘you can’t fight with your brother; let us in your enclosure; let us out.’ It’s all part of being young sea lions,” Carlee says.

Luckily, the boys have someone to look up to and learn from. “Cabo has been wonderful with them,” Carlee says, “He is patient with them, and they think he is awesome.” Kristi notes that “He is teaching them to be sea lions, which is very important in their development as they mature.” The pups’ “acting lessons” will continue until they are ready for some on-stage experience. Carlee is confident they will be stars. “They’re learning every day and are smart sea lions. They’ll do well in the show,” she says. Perhaps pretty soon, they’ll want to direct.

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from the archives

Stars of Stage—and Pool?

Captain Bennie Kirkbride ignored the adage about working with animals (and children) and turned pinniped-packed performances into shows that had Zoo audiences roaring with laughter for 35 years.

What began in 1948 as a less-than-10-minute act grew into elaborate productions incorporating the 3 types of shows that Bennie developed during his years at the Zoo: a dry act, which featured seals and sea lions performing on the stage; a diving act, which took place in the Wegeforth Bowl pool; and the most unusual—the seals and sea lions presenting their skills while riding ponies.

In all those years and performances, one show stood out to Bennie as the best example of being upstaged by his whiskered sidekicks. As he recalled in a post-retirement interview, “Once I was doing a show, and I had the sea lion on a diving board. I had a white uniform on. I was trying to get him to put his tail up and do a handstand…and I fell into the pool. When I climbed out, the audience just roared…I looked down and saw that the red polka dot shorts I was wearing were showing through the pants.”

Maybe there’s something to that adage after all.

PUBLISHED SINCE 1926

DECEMBER 2013

MANAGING EDITOR

KAREN E. WORLEY

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

PEGGY SCOTT DEBBIE ANDREEN

STAFF WRITERS SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL™ PHOTOGRAPHER DIGITAL IMAGING TECHNICIAN DESIGN AND PRODUCTION

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL™ VIDEOGRAPHERS

LXXXVI–NO. 12

WENDY PERKINS KARYL CARMIGNANI KEN BOHN TAMMY SPRATT DAMIEN LASATER CHRISTOPHER MARTIN HEIDI SCHMID STEPHANIE BEVIL-PAGADUAN DENNIS CORBRAN KAMBIZ MEHRAFSHANI KRISTIN NIELSEN TIM REAMER LISA BISSI JENNIFER MACEWAN LEE RIEBER MARIA BERNAL-SILVA

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